I was invited by Disney to Pandora at Animal Kingdom to facilitate my review. All opinions shared are 100% my own.
Get ready to fly high above Pandora on the back of a banshee! Taming and connecting to a banshee is an important rite of passage for the Na’vi and you get to live the experience of riding one only at The World of Avatar in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. I can’t rave enough about this family-friendly thrill ride that will have you dreaming with your eyes open! It is a 3D simulator ride that is intense only due to how immersive it is. Are you a chicken like me? Concerned if the kids will enjoy the ride? I have 9 Things About Pandora Flight of Passage You Need to Know Before you Ride that will hopefully answer all your questions.
9 Things About Pandora Flight of Passage You Need to Know Before you Ride
Like I said, I am a chicken. I have ridden all the Disney rides and stay away from Splash mountain. Needless to say, I was worried about my first ride on Flight of Passage. I have to tell you right now I ENJOYED it so much I rode it twice! This is the rundown on the attraction:
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Unique ride: spread your wings, you will feel like you are really flying
I have never experienced anything so utterly complete and amazing in a ride before. You will be seated on bike-like seats called “link chairs” that will make you feel tight when you are first secured in. The link chairs will be in motion in tandem with the 3D images you will see to the point that you will feel like you truly are flying. That said, there is plenty of wind thrown at you to enhance the feeling during this smooth ride.
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Incredible sensory experience
This ride has it all. You will see, feel, smell, hear, and totally be one with the story. The crisp and refreshing effects give way to stunning experience. I particularly love the smell in the luminescent cave. You will also feel as if the banshee under you is breathing.
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No background story details needed
You can, but you don’t need to brush up on the Avatar story to enjoy and understand the ride. Everything will be explained to you as you progress to getting into the link chairs.
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It feels like flying and it is unique…so what is it?
I think the best ways to describe it is to imagine a crossover between Soarin’ and Mission Space at Epcot (or Star Wars The Adventure continues at Hollywood Studios)
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Not for the toddlers in your party
You must be 44″ tall to ride.
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Exhilarating but not scary
The flight is full of surprises and you won’t want to miss a thing. The most surprising moment for me was the at the start when the banshee takes a small plunge. Of course, screaming was my first instinct which helped me realize “wow, I am flying and this is awesome”. After that, I didn’t want to blink so I could take it all in. Yes, I kept screaming for joy and some more minor dives and unexpected moments.
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Fastpasses+ are available: enough said 🙂
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Enjoy the queue
Never has moving a line be such a beautiful experience. You can anticipate the line to be very long if you don’t have a fastpass+. You will enter a cave, visit a bioluminescent forest and arrive and abandoned RDA facility where you can admire a giant avatar. Cool mom tip: listen for the sounds as you enter the forest. Cool mom tip: the line offers great photo opportunities
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Iknimaya
Perhaps the biggest point to know about the Pandora Flight of Passage ride is that you will want to go on it again and again and again! No iknimaya really needed (Na’vi word for courage).
Thank You Imagineers
If the chicken in had so much fun at Flight of Passage, believe me, everyone else will. I was in total wonder of a new world that I could feel, smell, enjoy and discover. I smiled big, I laughed and cheered all through the ride. While it is not a short ride, you will sad to see it come to and end.
Are you excited to visit Pandora at Animal Kingdom? Anything you can’t wait to experience on Flight of Passage?
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Jessica Taylor says
I can’t wait to ride this! We are going in january of next year and this is definitely on my list!
Lisa J O'Driscoll says
Loved reading this post! I am so excited about Pandora I can’t stand it LOL! Avatar was one of those movies my hubby dragged me too (it was his turn to pick and I had no interested in seeing it) but I loved it more than he did. It looks like it’s going to be amazing.
Shannon says
Wow! This ride looks amazing! Fast passes are definitely a must for my family!
Donna says
Oh wow this looks amazing! I haven’t heard of it before – we went to Disney a few years ago and loved it – of course!
Claudia Krusch says
The World of Avatar in Disney’s Animal Kingdom sounds amazing. I am hoping to take the kids in the fall. I can not wait to see it in person.
Elizabeth says
Oh wow! I would absolutely LOVE to do that one day, I had no idea such a ride existed!!!
Corinne & Kirsty says
I had never heard of this. Sounds like a great experience! Not the biggest fan of Avatar but some of my friends are so will definitively recommend this! xx corinne
stacey says
Sounds like a lot o fun. I loved the movie, and it sounds like the sensation you get ziplining which I also like.
Miranda says
Oh I love this! This adventure looks like a once in a life type! from the pictures the caves look so so cool!
Kaitlynn says
I haven’t been to Disney since I was a little kid and I can’t remember much. I think it’s time to return. This ride looks so fun!
kioandlew says
I can’t wait for Pandora. It sounds like a great place, The rides looks so fun and exciting! And I love the movie Avatar.
Elizabeth O. says
It sounds like a cool new ride to look forward to when you’re in Disney! I’ve been hearing good things about this new ride! I would love to experience it.
misty nelson dawn says
This sounds so cool and makes me want to go there, I love to go on an adventure like this! I bet my hubby would love this too.
Katja says
Wow – this place looks amazing. the artwork and the visuals were the bomb. I’d quite like to see this place.
Katja xxx
George says
Well if you could handle this, then you’ll have no problem with Splash Mountain.
It’s an amazing adventure, but it’s not for the faint hearted.
If you ridden Splash Mountain after reading this, you’ll thank me later.